Visit www.clearfieldjeffersonredcross.org to learn more about the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter or visit us on Facebook.
Give the gift of life this holiday season. Red Cross Infant/Child CPR, Adult CPR and First Aid gift certificates are available in our offices. You can also visit redcross.org/gifts for more gift options.
Holiday hours for the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter offices of the Red Cross will be as follows: Closed, Nov. 25 and 26; Dec. 24, 27, 31. We will be opened from 8:30-12:30 on Dec. 30. Disaster volunteers will be on-call to respond in the case of emergency.
Holiday Traditions of the United States of America!
History books refer to the United States as “the melting pot” where all nations and traditions blend together. Indeed, our Christmas celebrations would indicate just that. We have carols from England and Australia and trees from Germany. Santa Claus, or St. Nick. in a red suit originated in Scandinavia and his arrival through the chimney to fill stockings is reminiscent of the Netherlands. His sleigh drawn by reindeer began in Switzerland, and our parades may be a carry-over from Latin processions. Of course the traditional feasting is typical of all nations. We, in turn, have fattened up the jolly old man in the red suit and blended all the traditions until he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve, leaves gifts and stockings filled with treats and departs in a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer. The media has helped to make this a universal Christmas image. Yet each regions of the U.S. has its own peculiarity.
From ancient times, American Indians have held religious dances to coincide with the winter solstice. Franciscan monks succeeded in bringing this Indian celebration and the Christmas Holy Day together. Thirty-five miles south of Santa Fe, in the San Felipe Pueblo, is held perhaps one of the most unique Christmas Eve dances. Shortly after the priest has delivered his Christmas Eve sermon and departed, birdcalls burst from the loft (sounds produced by blowing into a shallow dish of water through a split, perforated hollow reed). An insistent drum takes over and dancers move into the blazing light of the altar. Dressed in masks, animal skins, feathers, coral, shells, turquoise and head dresses with real antlers, they perform the deer, turtle, eagle and buffalo dances. Women carry a sprig of HAKAK, the sacred spruce tree, which represents eternal life and which they believed helped to create mankind.
From the Appalachian mountains came one of today’s most popular Christmas songs, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” This was originally a “counting song” of magical or pagan origin, and no one seems to know what it originally meant. However, today it has become the theme of many Christmas cards and displays..
Pennsylvania’s Moravian population embrace Christmas with a “Love-Fest.” These are musical services in which the congregation partakes of simple food while the choir sings appropriate hymns and anthems. Usually, the congregation must be served sweet buns and coffee in the time it takes to sing three hymns. Candles are distributed, made of beeswax (for until the 15th century, it was believed bees were made in Paradise), and as the final anthem is sung, all raise their lighted candles to “Praise to Our Heavenly King.”
Health & Safety Classes
Adult CPR
Punxsutawney-December 6- 6pm
Clearfield-December 9 – 6pm
Brookville- December 14-6pm
First Aid
Punxsutawney-Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
Brookville-Dec. 14, 6 p.m.
Clearfield-Dec. 16, 6 p.m.
Infant/Child CPR
Clearfield-Dec. 2, 6 p.m.
Call 765-5516 in Clearfield or 849-2712 in Brookville to register for classes or place an order.
Blood Drives
Clearfield Bloodmobile Schedule
Nov. 26 440 Front Street 9:00-2:00
Dec. 3 440 Front Street 12:00-6:00
Dec. 8 Frenchville St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall 1:00-7:00
Dec. 10 Clearfield Area High School 8:15-2:00
Dec. 11 St. John Lutheran Church 9:00-3:00
Dec. 13 Curwensville Women’s Club-CMA Church 12:00-6:00
Dec. 17 440 Front Street 12:00-6:00
Dec. 22 Pleasant Valley UM Church 12:00-6:00
Dec. 28 Clearfield YMCA 12:00-6:00
Dec. 30 St. Bona Ventures-Grampian 12:30-6:00
Dec. 31 440 Front St. 8:00-1:00
Jefferson County Bloodmobile Schedule
Dec. 10 EUM Church, Brookville 12:00-6:00
Dec. 14 SSCD Punxsutawney 12:00-6:00
Dec. 15 Brockway Volunteer Hose Co. 12:00-6:00
Holiday wreath orders will arrive at our offices on Dec. . Upcoming soon will be our Longaberger Basket Raffle, more information follow in Red Cross Notes.
Red Cross is a United Way and United Fund Participating Agency and RSVP Station.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org. Support your American Red Cross! Checks may be sent to Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 1100 S. Second St. Suite 2, Clearfield, Pa 16830, or Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, 18 Western Ave, Brookville, Pa 15825. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
